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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is important to remember and honor those who
3gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to the State Of
4Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Illinois State Police Trooper Marvin C. Archer, a
6World War II veteran, was killed in a gunfight on June 18, 1946
7while attempting to apprehend two vehicle thieves at the
8intersection of Illinois Route 45 and 9 near Paxton; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer and his partner, Vernon Harper,
10spotted the stolen vehicle and initiated a traffic stop; the
11two suspects opened fire, and both officers took cover and
12returned fire; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer was shot and died on the scene;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, One of the suspects re-entered a vehicle and led
16Illinois and Indiana state police on a pursuit; he changed
17vehicles two more times before Illinois troopers found him
18approximately three hours later inside a parked vehicle near
19Champaign; three troopers opened fire and fatally shot the
20suspect multiple times; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer served two years with the Illinois
2State Police and then two years as a combat engineer in the
3Pacific during World War II; he returned to his state police
4duties six months before his death; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Illinois State Police have saved countless
6lives by protecting the citizens of Illinois though law
7enforcement and patrolling the roadways of our State; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer is an example of the dedication
9and sacrifice of the Illinois State Police, and it is fitting
10we remember his sacrifice; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
13SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of
14Illinois Route 9 between South Washington Street and High
15Street in Paxton as the "Trooper Marvin C. Archer Memorial
16Road"; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
18is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
19State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
20giving notice of the name "Trooper Marvin C. Archer Memorial
21Road"; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Trooper Archer and the Secretary of
3Transportation.